Srikar Chamarthi is competing this week at his third and last Scripps National Spelling Bee.

Srikar Chamarthi is competing this week at his third and last Scripps National Spelling Bee.

Photo: Courtesy Photo

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Abell Junior High eighth-grader Srikar Chamarthi is competing this week at the annual Scripps National Spelling Bee. It’s the Odessa resident’s third-straight year to make it to the national stage.

Abell Junior High eighth-grader Srikar Chamarthi is competing this week at the annual Scripps National Spelling Bee. It’s the Odessa resident’s third-straight year to make it to the national stage.

Photo: Jacy Lewis/Reporter-Telegram

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Abell student does not advance to national bee finals

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Abell Junior High student Srikar Chamarthi after correctly spelling a word Wednesday learned his written test score didn’t propel him to the final segment of the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

During his first round of oral spelling on Tuesday, the eighth-grader received the word “ostreophagous” — meaning feeding on oysters. More than 300 spellers remained in the competition when he was called to the stage on Wednesday and correctly spelled “stratospheric” — meaning extremely high.

Later, it was announced that 41 spellers advanced to today’s final round. Though Chamarthi wasn’t named a finalist this year, he reached that level in 2017. He tied for 23rd place in that competition.

More Information

The finals of the annual Scripps National Spelling Bee will be broadcast live today from the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center near Washington, D.C. Part 1 will air 9 a.m.- 1 p.m. CDT on ESPN2. Part 2 will air beginning at 7:30 p.m. CDT on ESPN.

The 13-year-old said it was satisfying to compete in the Scripps bee another year.

“It felt amazing because it just built up my confidence,” he said in a phone interview.

Chamarthi earned his spot on the national stage after winning the Reporter-Telegram Regional Spelling Bee in February. It was the last chance for him to seek the Scripps trophy because current rules don’t allow spellers to compete past eighth grade.

“I’m kind of sad but also sort of relieved that there’s no more pressure,” he said.

To prepare for this year’s competition, Srikar used materials and studied independently. His mother, Manjula Mudduluru, noticed his anticipation before the event and thinks he will continue showing interest in spelling.

“This is the last time he is going to participate in the bee,” Mudduluru said. “He did prepare a lot more than he did the last two years.”

Chamarthi, who competed on the national stage for the third straight time, said staging elements made this year’s bee different from previous ones.

“It’s much more organized now,” he said. “There were assigned spots for you to go and leave the stage.”

When Chamarthi wasn’t competing in spelling rounds, he participated in other Bee Week activities. He tried to explore places in the nation’s capital that he hadn’t seen on past visits.

In the future, Chamarthi said he may help his friends with spelling and thinks knowing vocabulary will be useful. The spelling bee veteran offers advice for Midland students who want to compete in the future.

“Don’t ever really be disappointed,” he said. “Sure, it’s a bit cliché, but no matter what, if you win at something you’ll be a champion.”